Quantum Reciprocity Conjecture for the Non-Equilibrium Steady State

By considering the lack of history dependence in the non-equilibrium steady state of a quantum system we are led to conjecture that in such a system, there is a set of quantum mechanical observables whose retarded response functions are insensitive to the arrow of time, and which consequently satisfy a quantum analog of the Onsager reciprocity relations. Systems which satisfy this conjecture can be described by an effective Free energy functional. We demonstrate that the conjecture holds in a resonant level model of a multi-lead quantum dot.Comment: References revised to take account of related work on Onsager reciprocity in mesoscopics by Christen, and in hydrodynamics by Mclennan, Dufty and Rub

WHEAT IMPORT DEMAND IN THE JAPANESE FLOUR MILLING INDUSTRY: A PRODUCTION THEORY APPROACH

The translog cost function is used to analyze import demand for wheat differentiated by class and country of origin in the Japanese wheat flour milling industry. Results indicate that U.S. wheat faces strong competition in the Japanese wheat market, but its multiple classes and end-use characteristics enable the United States to preserve the largest market share in Japan.import demand, Japan, wheat, production theory, translog cost function, International Relations/Trade,

Lattice dynamics and electron-phonon coupling in Sr2RuO4

The lattice dynamics in Sr$_2$RuO$_4$ has been studied by inelastic neutron scattering combined with shell-model calculations. The in-plane bond-stretching modes in Sr$_2$RuO$_4$ exhibit a normal dispersion in contrast to all electronically doped perovskites studied so far. Evidence for strong electron phonon coupling is found for c-polarized phonons suggesting a close connection with the anomalous c-axis charge transport in Sr$_2$RuO$_4$.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figures 2 table

Analysing the Security of Google's implementation of OpenID Connect

Many millions of users routinely use their Google accounts to log in to relying party (RP) websites supporting the Google OpenID Connect service. OpenID Connect, a newly standardised single-sign-on protocol, builds an identity layer on top of the OAuth 2.0 protocol, which has itself been widely adopted to support identity management services. It adds identity management functionality to the OAuth 2.0 system and allows an RP to obtain assurances regarding the authenticity of an end user. A number of authors have analysed the security of the OAuth 2.0 protocol, but whether OpenID Connect is secure in practice remains an open question. We report on a large-scale practical study of Google's implementation of OpenID Connect, involving forensic examination of 103 RP websites which support its use for sign-in. Our study reveals serious vulnerabilities of a number of types, all of which allow an attacker to log in to an RP website as a victim user. Further examination suggests that these vulnerabilities are caused by a combination of Google's design of its OpenID Connect service and RP developers making design decisions which sacrifice security for simplicity of implementation. We also give practical recommendations for both RPs and OPs to help improve the security of real world OpenID Connect systems

Fractal Characterizations of MAX Statistical Distribution in Genetic Association Studies

Two non-integer parameters are defined for MAX statistics, which are maxima of $d$ simpler test statistics. The first parameter, $d_{MAX}$, is the fractional number of tests, representing the equivalent numbers of independent tests in MAX. If the $d$ tests are dependent, $d_{MAX} < d$. The second parameter is the fractional degrees of freedom $k$ of the chi-square distribution $\chi^2_k$ that fits the MAX null distribution. These two parameters, $d_{MAX}$ and $k$, can be independently defined, and $k$ can be non-integer even if $d_{MAX}$ is an integer. We illustrate these two parameters using the example of MAX2 and MAX3 statistics in genetic case-control studies. We speculate that $k$ is related to the amount of ambiguity of the model inferred by the test. In the case-control genetic association, tests with low $k$ (e.g. $k=1$) are able to provide definitive information about the disease model, as versus tests with high $k$ (e.g. $k=2$) that are completely uncertain about the disease model. Similar to Heisenberg's uncertain principle, the ability to infer disease model and the ability to detect significant association may not be simultaneously optimized, and $k$ seems to measure the level of their balance

The Luminosity Function of high-redshift QSOs - A combined analysis of GOODS and SDSS

Aims: In this work the luminosity function of QSOs is measured in the redshift range 3.5<z<5.2 for the absolute magnitude interval -21<M_{145}<-28. The determination of the faint end of the luminosity function at these redshifts provides important constraints on models of joint evolution of galaxies and AGNs. Methods: We have defined suitable criteria to select faint QSOs in the GOODS fields, checking in detail their effectiveness and completeness. Spectroscopic follow-up of the resulting QSO candidates has been carried out. The confirmed sample of faint QSOs is compared with a brighter one derived from the SDSS. We have used a Monte-Carlo technique to estimate the properties of the luminosity function, checking various parameterizations for its shape and evolution. Results: Models based on Pure Density Evolution show better agreement with observation than models based on Pure Luminosity Evolution. However a different break magnitude with respect to z~2.1 is required at 3.5<z<5.2. Models with a steeper faint end score a higher probability. We do not find any evidence for a flattening of the bright end at redshift z>3.5. Conclusions: The estimated space density evolution of QSOs indicates a suppression of the formation and/or feeding of Supermassive Black Holes at these redshifts. The QSO contribution to the UV background is insufficient to ionize the IGM at 3.5<z<5.2.Comment: 17 pages, 13 ps figures, A&A accepted. Updated to journal versio

Spin-spin correlators in Majorana representation

In the Majorana representation of a spin 1/2 we find an identity which relates spin-spin correlators to one-particle fermionic correlators. This should be contrasted with the straightforward approach in which two-particle (four-fermion) correlators need to be calculated. We discuss applications to the analysis of the dynamics of a spin coupled to a dissipative environment and of a quantum detector performing a continuous measurement of a qubit's state

The influence of baryons on the mass distribution of dark matter halos

Using a set of high-resolution N-body/SPH cosmological simulations with identical initial conditions but run with different numerical setups, we investigate the influence of baryonic matter on the mass distribution of dark halos when radiative cooling is NOT included. We compare the concentration parameters of about 400 massive halos with virial mass from $10^{13}$ \Msun to $7.1 \times 10^{14}$ \Msun. We find that the concentration parameters for the total mass and dark matter distributions in non radiative simulations are on average larger by ~3% and 10% than those in a pure dark matter simulation. Our results indicate that the total mass density profile is little affected by a hot gas component in the simulations. After carefully excluding the effects of resolutions and spurious two-body heating between dark matter and gas particles, we conclude that the increase of the dark matter concentration parameters is due to interactions between baryons and dark matter. We demonstrate this with the aid of idealized simulations of two-body mergers. The results of individual halos simulated with different mass resolutions show that the gas profiles of densities, temperature and entropy are subjects of mass resolution of SPH particles. In particular, we find that in the inner parts of halos, as the SPH resolution increases the gas density becomes higher but both the entropy and temperature decrease.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures, 1 table, ApJ in press (v652n1); updated to match with the being published versio

Emergence of intrinsic superconductivity below 1.178 K in the topologically non-trivial semimetal state of CaSn3

Topological materials which are also superconducting are of great current interest, since they may exhibit a non-trivial topologically-mediated superconducting phase. Although there have been many reports of pressure-tuned or chemical-doping-induced superconductivity in a variety of topological materials, there have been few examples of intrinsic, ambient pressure superconductivity in a topological system having a stoichiometric composition. Here, we report that the pure intermetallic CaSn3 not only exhibits topological fermion properties but also has a superconducting phase at 1.178 K under ambient pressure. The topological fermion properties, including the nearly zero quasi-particle mass and the non-trivial Berry phase accumulated in cyclotron motions, were revealed from the de Haas-van Alphen (dHvA) quantum oscillation studies of this material. Although CaSn3 was previously reported to be superconducting at 4.2K, our studies show that the superconductivity at 4.2K is extrinsic and caused by Sn on the degraded surface, whereas its intrinsic bulk superconducting transition occurs at 1.178 K. These findings make CaSn3 a promising candidate for exploring new exotic states arising from the interplay between non-trivial band topology and superconductivity, e.g. topological superconductivityComment: 20 pages,4 figure